Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic employee Sheldon Rucinski, P.E., was named "Citizens Services Employee of the Year" for 2018 by the Chicago Federal Executive Board (FEB), during their 61st annual awards presentation in Chicago, May 10.

The Chicago FEB annual awards program is open to more than 170 federal offices and agencies and their 40,000 federal employees. The FEB awards represent the broad spectrum of roles and highlight the diversity of public service in their region.

"This is a great honor," said Rucinski, a nine-year NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic employee, currently working in Capital Improvements onboard Naval Station Great Lakes. "I hope it motivates others to give a little of their time."

The Citizens Services Employee award category recognizes significant contributions in activities related to public and community service to include areas such as economic development, education, health care, housing, labor and transportation.

"Sheldon Rucinski shows humility and a commitment to service every day through volunteer work in his community. Sheldon volunteers every week with the Holy Family Soup Kitchen, serving food to more than 200 people weekly. He also volunteers with the Naval Station Great Lake's USO where he serves food to upwards of 300 Sailors and even delays his own holiday dinners to volunteer when the USO is short staffed," read the Chicago FEB press release announcing the 2018 award winners.

Rucinski, who had been previously selected as the NAVFAC Midwest 2013 Civilian Engineer of the Year, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Engineering and Building Construction and a Minor in Business Management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As a fire protection engineer (FPE), Rucinski provides design and engineering services for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps to include design, consultation, site assessments, testing, RFP (request for proposal) development and contract execution.

"I'd known of Sheldon's reputation as a fire protection engineer long before becoming his supervisor in late 2015," said Douglas Stultz, P.E., NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Fire Protection Engineering Department acting branch head and Technical Discipline coordinator. "Sheldon has long been recognized for his excellence within the NAVFAC community of FPE.

"Sheldon has never mentioned his volunteering at the soup kitchen or his sacrificing time with his family to help those less fortunate. When Blayne Kirsch, Sheldon's previous supervisor, contacted me in January regarding his potential to be selected for the award and why; I was impressed with Sheldon's volunteerism, I was however, not surprised he was selected."

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from Georgia to Maine and as far west as Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region's facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

The Federal Executive Boards, established by Presidential Directive in 1961, are a forum for communication and collaboration among federal agencies outside of Washington, DC. The need for effective coordination among the field activities of federal departments and agencies was then, and is still, very clear. Approximately 85 percent of all federal employees work outside the national capital region. The national network of 28 FEBs, located in areas of significant federal populations, serves as the cornerstone for strategic partnering in government.


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